BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY:
The development of the Small Munsterlander is hidden somewhere in the middle of the 19th century. After the change of the German hunting law, with the increasing number of hunters and hunting enthusiasts and the systematic cultivation of the game stock the breeding of new German Pointing Dogs began. There are reports saying that around 1870 longcoated “Wachtelhunds” (German Spaniels) were well known in the Munsterland region. These dogs were firm in pointing, they had enormous scenting abilities and were also able to retrieve.

In the year 1906 the well known heath poet Hermann Löns took care of the matter: He put a
public appeal into the magazin „Unser Wachtelhund“ to give him a report on the still existing
specimens of the red Hanovarian Heath Hound. However, instead of that he and his brothers
discovered a pointing Wachtelhund on the farms, that they called „Heidewachtel“. Apart from the Löns brothers, well known dog men like for example the Baron of Bevervörde-Lohburg put efforts into getting a reasonable breeding stock in other regions as well. Mr. Heitmann, a teacher from Burgsteinfurt, achieved first success with his line breeding.

Several other breeding families, known as the so-called „Dorsten type“, appeared during the following years in Westphalia. On March 17, 1912, the „Verband für Kleine Münsterländer Vorstehhunde“ (Club for Small Munsterlander Pointing Dogs) was finally founded. At that time this Club expressed its aims as follows: “The Club pursues the purpose to promote the purity and the true breeding of the longcoated small pointing dog that has been bred in the Munsterland for many decades.” The lack of the fixed breed characteristics at that time inhibited the breeding activities as well as the Club activities. From 1921, the breeders finally followed the breed standard that had been drawn up by Mr. Friedrich Jungklaus. Nevertheless, the true origin of the dogs of that time is not exactly proved.

GENERAL APPEARANCE:
Strong and harmonious build of medium size, showing balanced proportions with a lot of quality and elegance. Distinguished head. In upright posture the dog displays flowing outlines with horizontally carried tail. Its front legs are well feathered, the hind legs with breeches, the tail has a distinct flag. Its glossy coat should be straight or slightly wavy, dense and not too long. Its movement is harmonious and far reaching.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS:
The length of the body from point of shoulders to the buttocks should exceed the height at the withers by not more than 5 cm. The length of the skull from the occiput to the stop is equal to the length of the muzzle from the stop to the nose.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT:
The Small Munsterlander is intelligent and capable of learning, full of temperament but even, with steady character; its attitude towards people is alert and friendly (suitable for family life), with good social behaviour and keeps close contact with his master (team spirit); with passionate, persevering predatory instinct, versatile hunting aptitudes and strong nerves and keenness for game.

NECK
Its length in balance with the general appearance; gradually widening towards the body. Napeline slightly arched, very muscular. Tight fitting throat skin.

BODY
Topline : Slightly sloping in a straight line.
Withers : Pronounced.
Back : Firm, well muscled. The spinal processes should be covered by the musculature.
Loins : Short, broad, muscular.
Croup : Long and broad, not short slanting, only slightly sloping towards the tail; well muscled.
Broad pelvis.
Chest : Rather deep than broad, breastbone reaching as far backwards as possible. Ribs well
arched.
Underline and belly : Slight tuck-up towards the rear in an elegant curve; lean.
TAIL
Set on high, with long flag, strong at the base, then tapering. Of medium length. Carried
downwards in repose, horizontally and not too high above the level of the topline with a slight sweep when in action. In the lower third it may be curved slightly upwards.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS: Viewed from the front straight and rather parallel, viewed from the side legs
set well under the body. The distance from the ground to the elbows should be approximately
equal to the distance from the elbows to the withers.
Shoulders: Shoulder blades lying close to the body, strongly muscled. Shoulder and upperarm
forming a good angle of approximately 90 °.
Upper arm: As long as possible, well muscled.
Elbows: Close to the body, neither turning in nor out. The upper arm forming a good angle with the forearm.
Forearm: Strong bones, perpendicular to the ground.
Carpal joint: Strong.
Pasterns: Very slightly sloping.
Front feet: Round and arched with well knit toes and sufficiently thick, tough, robust pads. Not too heavy coat. Parallel in stance or in movement, neither turning in nor out.

GAIT / MOVEMENT
Ground covering, with good drive and appropriate reach, straight forward
and parallel coming and going, with well upstanding posture. Pacing gait is undesirable.

SKIN: Tight fitting, without folds.

HAIR: Dense, of medium length, not or only slightly wavy, close lying, water-repellent. The
outlines of the body may not be hidden by too long coat. By its density it should provide as good a protection against weather, unfavourable terrain conditions and injuries as possible. Short smooth coat on the ears is faulty. Forelegs feathered, hindlegs with breeching down to the hocks, tail with a long flag and white tip, abundant coat on the forechest is undesirable.

COLOUR: Brown-white or brown roan with brown patches, brown mantle or brown ticking; blaze
permitted. Tan coloured markings at the muzzle, the eyes and around the anus are permissible
(“Jungklaus markings”).